Abstract: Photostable, cosmetic light-screening compositions for the protection of the human epidermis and the hair against the ultraviolet rays of wavelengths between 290 and 400 nm comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle containing at least one fatty phase, about 0.5 to about 5%, in particular about 1 to about 4% by weight, of a dibenzoylmethane type UV-A screening agent and at least about 0.1% to about 20%, in particular about 0.

Abstract: A process for producing riboflavin glucoside comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus, such as Bacillus brevis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus or Bacillus subtilis, which is capable of producing riboflavin glucosides, in an aqueous medium containing a starch under aerobic conditions. Amongst the preferred strains are Bacillus subtilis RB50::[pRF69]60Ade+ and Bacillus subtilis RB50::[pRF69]60[pRF93]120Ade+. The so-produced riboflavin glucoside can be used as a more soluble substitute for riboflavin to prepare clear drinks and injection solutions.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of dihydrocitral, a valuable intermediate, through the catalyzed rearrangement of dihydrodehydrolinalool by carrying out the rearrangement in the presence of a molybdenum compound of the general formula MoO2X2 wherein X signifies an acetylacetonate or halide ion, and a dialkyl or diaryl sulphoxide as the catalyst system, in the presence of an organic acid having a pK value in the range of about 4.0 to about 6.5 and in an aprotic organic solvent.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of trans-(R,R)-actinol by diasteroselective transfer hydrogenation of levodione comprises hydrogenating (R)-levodione in the presence of a hydrogen donor, which simultaneously can be used as the solvent, and an amino-amide-ruthenium complex, especially of the formula RuH(L{—H})(Y), wherein Y signifies a neutral ligand and L signifies an optionally optically active monosulphonylated diamine ligand, as defined in more detail in the description. Moreover, the invention is concerned with some of the amino-amide-ruthenium complexes and with the corresponding precursors to these complexes, which have halogen in place of H. The product of the process in accordance with the invention, trans-(R,R)-actinol, is known as an important building block for the synthesis of carotenoids, e.g. zeaxanthin. By the process trans-(R,R)-actinol is made available in particularly high enantiomeric and diasteromeric purity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optically clear composition of fat soluble vitamins useful to fortify beverages. In addition, beverages which have been nutritionally supplemented using the optically clear composition of fat soluble vitamins are also provided for in the present invention. In particular compositions of vitamin E or vitamin E esters are provided.

Abstract: A photochemical process for the production of previtamin D3 or a derivative thereof from 7-dehydrocholesterol is disclosed. The process includes irradiating the 7-dehydrocholesterol in a reactor with a UV radiation source, wherein the UV source includes an excimer or exciplex emitter which emits quasi-monochromatically according to the corona discharge mechanism in the UV range, and recovering previtamin D3 or a derivative thereof. Previtamin D3 compositions and derivatives made from this process are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to cosmetic light screening compositions containinga) a compound of formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1-8 straight or branched alkyl chain, andR.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently a C.sub.1-8 straight or branched alkyl chain;b) common UV-B and/or common UV-A screening agents; andc) a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder composition which comprises droplets of a fat soluble vitamin which droplets average about 70 to about 200 nanometers in diameter, and which are dispersed in a modified polysaccharide matrix, beverages and tablets containing the composition, and methods of making the composition.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a consensus protein from a group of amino acid sequences of a defined protein family, proteins and polynucleotides so obtained, and compositions containing such proteins.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of polyene aldehydes comprises reacting a polyene O,O-ethylene acetal with a 1-alkoxy-1,3-diene in the presence of a Lewis acid or Bronsted acid, hydrolyzing the resulting condensation product and cleaving off alcohol under basic or acidic conditions from the polyene derivative produced at this stage. The novel polyene O,O-ethylene acetals as well as the likewise novel condensation products in this process form further aspects of the invention. The final products are primarily carotenoids which find corresponding use, e.g. as colorants and pigments for foodstuffs, animal products etc.

Abstract: Multiple micro-encapsulations of a high concentration oleophilic substance using heat to set the primary particle renders the composition suitable for the production of free-flowing powders or beadlets. Microencapsulation involves forming an emulsion out of the oleophilic substance and a polymer, and then use heat setting and/or cross-linking the polymer encapsulates the oleophilic composition. This process is then repeated with a second polymer or third polymer, and with or without cross-linked via the same or different mechanism to further protect the oleophilic substance.

Abstract: Purified and crystallized riboflavin is prepared by a process that includes dissolving needle-shaped riboflavin of the stable modification A form in an aqueous mineral acid solution at a temperature not exceeding about 30.degree. C. with intensive intermixing. Active charcoal is then added to the resulting solution. After adsorption of the dissolved impurities from the solution onto the active charcoal, the solution containing the active charcoal is subjected to counter-current filtration over a ceramic membrane having a pore size of about 20 to about 200 nm. The resulting filtrate is treated with a five- to ten-fold amount of water (vol./vol.) at a temperature not exceeding about 30.degree. C. The resulting precipitated, spherical crystals of riboflavin are then separated by centrifugation or filtration. If desired, the spherical crystals of riboflavin may be washed with water and subsequently dried.

Abstract: A widely applicable process for the manufacture of carotenoids by a Wittig reaction comprises carrying out the Wittig reaction in a polar reaction medium in a manner such that neither the reactants nor the thus-manufactured carotenoid are significantly dissolved in the reaction medium. An especially suitable reaction medium is a polar, toxicologically harmless solvent which remains monophasic on the addition of water in an amount up to about 30 vol. % and which permits the triarylphosphine oxide which is formed to dissolve well. Lower alcohols and acetone, as sole solvents or as mixtures with one another and/or with water, are especially suitable as the polar reaction medium. This process permits the use of much more concentrated reaction mixtures, simplifies the regeneration of the solvent and generally the reaction procedure, and avoids toxicologically objectionable solvents such as halogenated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Multiple micro-encapsulations of a high concentration oleophilic substance using heat to set the primary particle renders the composition suitable for the production of free-flowing powders or beadlets. Microencapsulation involves forming an emulsion out of the oleophilic substance and a polymer, and then use heat setting and/or cross-linking the polymer encapsulates the oleophilic composition. This process is then repeated with a second polymer or third polymer, and with or without cross-linked via the same or different mechanism to further protect the oleophilic substance.

Abstract: A process for producing L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or D-erythorbic acid from 2-keto-D-gluconic acid by contacting 2-keto-L-gulonic acid or 2-keto-D-gluconic acid, respectively, in solution with a lactonase, particularly one belonging to the enzyme class EC 3.1.1.x, according to the classification of Enzyme Nomenclature. The solvent for this reaction can be water, an aqueous alcohol, a non-alcoholic organic solvent or a mixture of an aqueous alcohol and a non-alcoholic organic solvent. The contacting is generally performed in a temperature range of 0.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. and a pH range of 1.5 to 12. In each case the starting material can be in the form of the free acid, the sodium salt, or the calcium salt. The so-produced vitamin C has very well known uses, and the alternatively produced D-erythorbic acid is useful as an antioxidant for food additives.

Abstract: Polynucleotides encoding proteins with D-sorbitol dehydrogenase activity or which function to activate D-sorbitol dehydrogenase proteins, in vivo, vectors and recombinant organisms which contain such polynucleotides, and methods of making D-sorbitol dehydrogenase and L-sorbose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cosmetic light screening composition containing, in an aqueous phase, about 0.5% to about 10 wt % of 2-phenylbenzimidazol-sulphonic acid or a salt thereof and at least one fatty phase, including about 1% to about 30 wt % of a linear or cyclic polysiloxane compound of the general formula Ia or Ib: ##STR1## wherein x is R or A;A is a group selected from the formula IIa, IIb or IIc; ##STR2## R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-6 alkyl or phenyl; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently hydrogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1-6 -alkyl or C.sub.1-6 -alkoxy;R.sup.3 is C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.4 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 -alkyl;r is from 0 to 250;s is from 0 to 20;r+s is at least 3;t is from 0 to 10;v is from 0 to 10;v+t is at least 3;n is from 1 to 6; andwhen s is 0, at least one X is A. Methods of using such compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Novel proteins of Flavobacrerium sp. R1534 and the DNA sequences which encode these proteins are disclosed which provide an improved biosynthetic pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentyl pyrophosphate to various carotenoid precursors and carotenoids, especially .beta.-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and cantaxanthin. Processes are also provided for preparing zeaxanthin by culturing a transformed host cell containing an expression cassette that includes a polynucleotide having a DNA sequence which encodes the GGPP synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtE), the prephytoene synthase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtB), the phytoene desaturase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtI), the lycopene cyclase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtY), or the .beta.-carotene hydroxylase of Flavobacterium sp. R1534 (crtZ). The polynucleotide is substantially free of other polynucleotides of Flavobacterium sp. R1534. The process further includes isolating the zeaxanthin from such cells or the culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production process of biotin by fermentation using a genetically engineered microorganism, and DNA sequences and vectors to be used in such process.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of carotenoid powders is disclosed. In the disclosed method, an aqueous suspension of the carotenoid is heated to melt the carotenoid, the suspension is then homogenized under pressure to form an emulsion, and the resulting emulsion is dried to obtain the carotenoid powder.